Lakewood seeks extra $10M from voters to pay to bus 10,000 private school students

Jennifer Brown/The Star-LedgerChildren get off buses in Lakewood. Lakewood will ask voters in November to approve spending an additional $10 million to pay for courtesy busing for more than 10,000 private school students.

LAKEWOOD — Lakewood will ask voters in November to approve spending an additional $10 million to pay for courtesy busing for more than 10,000 private school students.

The cost exceeds a state mandated budget cap.

The Ocean County school district originally sought a state waiver. But Education Department spokesman Mike Yaple tells the Asbury Park Press the department doesn't provide for increases in transportation costs.

The school board has approved a preliminary budget that includes $17 million for transportation.

State law does not require courtesy busing for students who live less than two miles from school.